Displaying 1 - 24 of 356 results.

It is an honour to address you today on behalf of the Prime Minister and Government of New Zealand.

Our General Election took place last week - our Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key is engaged in forming a government and that is why he is unable to be here in New York.

I want to begin by acknowledging the success of the recent Small Islands Developing States conference held in Samoa.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the announcement of Afghanistan’s new President and Government of National Unity.

“This has been a closely fought election and the people of Afghanistan have been waiting for a result since the presidential election runoff took place in July,” Mr McCully said

“On behalf of the New Zealand Government I congratulate President-elect Ashraf Ghani on his success and Abdullah Abdullah, who has the option to take up a senior role in Afghanistan’s new Government of National Unity.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today congratulated Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, on being sworn in as Fiji’s Prime Minister.

“The final count of the election results confirmed that Mr Bainimarama’s FijiFirst Party secured a clear majority and he has now been sworn in as Prime Minister,” Mr McCully says.

“Last week Fiji held their first democratic election in eight years and Multinational Observer Group has stated it is satisfied the election was credible, and broadly representative of the will of the Fijian people.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to New York today to attend the 69th United Nations General Assembly.

“The United Nations General Assembly is the foremost meeting of countries at the highest level. It is an opportunity to ensure that the views of New Zealand and our Pacific neighbours are heard in global discussions,” says Mr McCully.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the International Whaling Commission’s passing of a New Zealand resolution enshrining the International Court of Justice’s decision on Japanese whaling.

“New Zealand wanted to make sure the Whaling Commission had rules in place that reflected the Court’s clear guidance on what constitutes scientific whaling,” Mr McCully says.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today congratulated the people of Fiji following their first democratic elections since 2006.

“Fiji’s election is a significant event, both for Fiji and for the wider Pacific region,” Mr McCully says.

“New Zealand has long been an advocate for elections in Fiji, and we are proud of our support for the election preparations and the institutions that will underpin Fiji’s return to democratic rule.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the safe release of 45 United Nations peacekeepers from Fiji who had been detained in Syria.

“The safe release of the peacekeepers is an excellent outcome for the soldiers and their friends and family in Fiji,” Mr McCully says.

“New Zealand applauds the hard work from the United Nations and others to secure their safe release.

“The peacekeepers were working under the United Nations banner to maintain stability along the border between Syria and Israel in the Golan Heights.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Sport and Recreation Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the announcement that the All Blacks have set a date to play Manu Samoa in Apia in 2015.

“Our shared passion for the game of rugby binds New Zealanders and Pacific people together,” Mr McCully says.

“The All Blacks playing in Apia recognises the importance of Samoa and other Pacific nations to our national side and our national game.

  • Murray McCully
  • Sport and Recreation

Foreign Minister Murray McCully and Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye today announced a new partnership aimed at helping Pacific Island nations prepare for and manage natural disasters.

“The Pacific region is vulnerable to natural disasters such as tsunami, earthquakes and cyclones,” Mr McCully says.

“Over the last three years the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) have been working together with Pacific Island governments to help them prepare for natural disasters.

  • Nikki Kaye
  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Civil Defence

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced that New Zealand will contribute a five person team to the Multinational Observer Group for the Fiji election.

“New Zealand is strongly supportive of Fiji’s election preparations and return to democratic rule,” Mr McCully says.

“The Multinational Observer Group will help give the international community, and the people of Fiji, confidence in the outcome of the election.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will host his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, for a working visit to New Zealand from 4-5 September.

“China is an important partner for New Zealand, and the visit by Foreign Minister Wang Yi is an opportunity to expand our cooperation regionally and internationally,” Mr McCully says.

“Our trade with China continues to grow. New Zealand’s annual merchandise exports to China are now over $11.5 billion – an increase of $3.5 billion in the past twelve months.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says New Zealand is deeply concerned at the announcement by Israel’s Civil Administration Authority that they will appropriate 400 hectares of privately owned Palestinian land near Bethlehem for Israeli settlements.

“Israel’s settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem undermine efforts to negotiate a final status agreement with the Palestinians based on a two state solution,” Mr McCully says.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed news that New Zealand will ratify the Arms Trade Treaty - a world-first agreement aimed at regulating and controlling the trade in conventional arms.

Prime Minister John Key made the announcement when he met with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Auckland this morning.

“The Arms Trade Treaty is a major step forward in global efforts to reduce the harm caused by the illicit arms trade,” Mr McCully says.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the completion of the Apia racecourse solar array in Samoa today.

“The 2.2 Megawatt photovoltaic array at the Apia Sports Complex will provide the highest electrical output from a single installation in the South Pacific,” says Mr McCully.

“Along with two other solar projects in Samoa it is expected meet a total of 4.5 per cent of the total energy demand in Samoa and supply approximately 4,400 households. In total New Zealand has contributed over $7.5 million towards these three projects.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says New Zealand is deeply disturbed at today’s reports indicating the involvement of Russian troops in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. 

“If these reports are confirmed, such actions will escalate the crisis at a time when efforts should be directed to easing tensions,” Mr McCully says.

“The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) met today to discuss these developments. The Council should take a leading role in addressing this situation. 

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced that New Zealand will provide $500,000 to support humanitarian efforts by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Iraq.

“The situation in Iraq has worsened dramatically since the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) began their offensive,” Mr McCully says.

“ISIL’s actions deserve the strongest condemnation. We have been appalled by the loss of life, displacement of civilians and the widespread abuses of human rights.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says New Zealand welcomes news that an indefinite ceasefire has been agreed by Israel and the Palestinians.

“New Zealanders have been greatly concerned, and justifiably outraged, by the number of civilian casualties in this conflict,” Mr McCully says.

“We urge both sides to ensure this current ceasefire holds and commend the efforts of Egypt, the United Nations, the United States and others to negotiate this ceasefire. 

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today welcomed the dignitaries and leaders that will visit New Zealand on-route to the Small Island Developing States Conference in Samoa from 1-4 September.

“The United Nations Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Conference takes place once every ten years and Samoa hosting the event is an opportunity for the Pacific region to set the global agenda,” Mr McCully says.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully travels to Nadi tomorrow to meet with Fiji’s Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.

“My meeting with Minister Kabuabola will focus on foreign policy discussions, regional issues, and Fiji’s ongoing preparations for elections on 17 September,” Mr McCully says.

“It is an opportunity to get Fiji’s perspective on the work that is going into preparing for the ballot, and whether there are further areas where New Zealand can assist.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed regulatory approval for the alliance between Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines, describing the initiative as “a game changer” in his meeting with Foreign Ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) earlier today.

“The potential for more direct flights into Singapore, with connections to other ASEAN capitals, is a game-changing development for New Zealand’s relationship with Southeast Asian countries," Mr McCully says.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has appointed diplomat Patrick Rata as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Italy.

“Italy is a good friend to New Zealand and an influential member of the European Union,” Mr McCully says.

“New Zealand is pleased to have recently concluded negotiations on a Partnership Agreement with the EU that will place our overall relationship with the European Union on an even stronger footing.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced diplomat Guergana Guermanoff as New Zealand’s new Consul-General to Shanghai.

“New Zealand’s trade with China has been growing strongly in the past five years, and Shanghai is an important point of entry to the Chinese market for many New Zealand firms,” Mr McCully says.

“Shanghai is an important post for New Zealand.  It is the commercial hub of China. The new Consul-General will oversee the further expansion of New Zealand’s presence in the Shanghai Delta. 

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced today that up to 100 young New Zealanders will be able to spend a year in Croatia following the signing of a reciprocal Working Holiday Scheme.

"This arrangement will enable young New Zealanders and Croatians aged between 18 and 30 to holiday or work each other’s countries,” Mr McCully says.

“Croatia is the newest member of the European Union, and this arrangement complements the arrangements we have in place with other EU nations.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Murray McCully travels to Myanmar this week to attend the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the ASEAN Regional Forum, and the ASEAN-New Zealand Ministerial Meeting.

“The East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting brings together Ministers from the ASEAN member states, US, Russia, Japan, China, Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand,” Mr McCully says.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs